Ferruginous Partridge vs Siamese Fireback

Caloperdix oculeus compared with Lophura diardi

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Ferruginous Partridge Siamese Fireback
Scientific Name Caloperdix oculeus Lophura diardi
Order Galliformes Galliformes
Family Phasianidae Phasianidae
Conservation Status Near Threatened Least Concern
Length
Wingspan 28.3 cm (11.1 in) 46.0 cm (18.1 in)
Weight 210.5 g (7.43 oz) 1041.6666666666667 g (36.74 oz)
Diet Eats seeds, invertebrates, and small fruits on floor of Southeast Asian lowland and hill forests. … Omnivorous; eats seeds, fruits, invertebrates, and small vertebrates in SE Asian lowland and foothill forests.
Clutch Size 8-10 4-8
Population Trend

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

Ferruginous Partridge only

None

Siamese Fireback only

None

Song & Call Comparison

Ferruginous Partridge

Song

Sharp, staccato 'krik-krik-krik' calls from lowland rainforest; often given in duet. Alarm is a loud, rapid chattering rattle; contact notes between pairs soft and clucking.

Siamese Fireback

Song

Loud 'kraw-KRAW' crowing calls; SE Asian species with nasal, penetrating quality. Alarm is rapid cackle. Males wing-drum in breeding season. Contact calls are guttural low clucks.

Geographic Range & Migration

Ferruginous Partridge

Resident in lowland rainforest of the Thai-Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, and Borneo. Found in flat or gently sloping lowland forest.

Siamese Fireback

Resident of lowland and foothill forest in Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam; tolerates secondary forest.

Conservation Status

Near Threatened

Ferruginous Partridge

Least Concern

Siamese Fireback

How to Tell Them Apart

Ferruginous Partridge

Plumage

Rich ferruginous (deep rusty-orange) overall; upperparts black-and-rufous barred; flanks black boldly spotted white; bare red facial skin; underparts rufous-orange; one of the most vividly coloured Southeast Asian partridges.

Siamese Fireback

Plumage

Male grey-black with intricate white vermiculations on upperparts; crimson lower back; black crest; red facial skin. Female dark brown with black and white shaft streaks; white-tipped tail feathers.

About These Birds

Ferruginous Partridge

A small partridge (~210 g) of family Phasianidae, with rich ferruginous (rust-red) plumage and spotted black-and-white markings. Inhabits lowland and foothill rainforests in Malaysia, Sumatra, and Borneo. Secretive, foraging on the forest floor for seeds and invertebrates. Near Threatened; associated with primary and tall secondary forest, declining with ongoing logging and land conversion.

Siamese Fireback

National bird of Thailand, this Phasianidae pheasant (~1.04 kg) inhabits lowland and foothill forests across Indochina. Males sport grey-laced plumage, a red facial mask, and a yellow-orange rump. Forages on fruits, seeds, and invertebrates. Tolerates secondary forest; currently Least Concern.

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